Gov. Andrew Cuomo takes tax cap victory lap in Geddes

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited a Geddes couple's home this afternoon to tout the property tax cap that he signed into law last month.

Holding a news conference at the home of Christopher and Tina Maroney on Winchell Drive, Cuomo said the tax cap will help New York families like the Maroneys.

"This property tax cap is designed to provide much-needed relief to families like the Maroneys who are sick and tired of the continually skyrocketing property taxes," Gov. Cuomo said. "Placing a limit on property tax increases will help keep New York families and businesses here in the Empire State and put our state on the path to economic prosperity. The days when New York is known as the tax capital of the nation are over."

The new law will apply to school districts and local governments, including counties, towns, villages and special districts, beginning in 2012.

Under the law, those government bodies can annually increase their property tax levy by no more than 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

The cap does not guarantee that the Maroneys' tax bill, or anyone else's, will not jump more than 2 percent, however.

Local communities and local voters can override the cap with a 60 percent vote on the budget for school boards or relevant legislative bodies. And government pension cost increases above 2 percent are excluded from the limit.

Local government and school district officials have warned that the tax cap - without meaningful relief from state-mandated costs - will result in layoffs, larger class sizes and service reductions.

The Legislature passed the property tax cap on June 24.

Cuomo has been traveling around the state, staging ceremonial signings of the property tax cap law while holding news conferences at the homes of residents. He was in Lancaster, in Erie County, on Tuesday. Today he held a news conference in Irondequoit, in Monroe County, before traveling to Geddes.